Memorable quotes for
Mission: Impossible (1996) More at IMDbPro »

Franz Krieger: If we're going to Virginia why don't we drop by Fort Knox? I could fly a helicopter through the lobby and set it down right inside the vault. And it would be a hell of a lot easier than breaking into the goddamn CIA.

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Eugene Kittridge: I want him manning a radar tower in Alaska by the end of the day. Just mail him his clothes.

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Ethan Hunt: [stopping Krieger from killing a guard] Zero bodycount.
Franz Krieger: We'll see.

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Ethan Hunt: Relax Luther, it's much worse than you think.

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Luther Stickell: You really think we can do this.
Ethan Hunt: We're going to do it.

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Eugene Kittridge: I understand you're very upset.
Ethan Hunt: Kittridge, you've never seen me very upset.
Eugene Kittridge: All right, Hunt. Enough is enough. You have bribed, cajoled, and killed, and you have done it using loyalties on the inside. You want to shake hands with the devil, that's fine with me. I just want to make sure that you do it in hell!

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Jack Harmen: [describing his "special" gum to Ethan] Stick of gum, right?
[Ethan shakes his head. Jack demonstrates]
Jack Harmen: Red light, green light. Come up against a lock you can't pick, you mash them together... *boom*. Hasta lasagna, don't get any on ya. You'll have about 5 seconds...
[hands the "gum" to Ethan]
Jack Harmen: Just don't chew it.

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Jim Phelps: Any questions?
Ethan Hunt: Yeah. Could we get a capuccino machine in here? 'Cause I don't know what you call this.
Jack Harmen: I call it cruel and unusual.
Claire Phelps: Hey, I made that coffee.
Ethan Hunt: Exactly.

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[Ethan Hunt has just discovered that arms-dealer Max is a woman]
Max: Anonimity... is like a warm blanket.

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Ethan Hunt: So, how does it feel to be a solid citizen again?
Luther Stickell: Man, I don't know. I'm gonna miss bein' disreputable.
Ethan Hunt: Well, Luther, if it makes you feel any better, I'll always think of you that way.

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[over the phone]
Ethan Hunt: They're dead.
Eugene Kittridge: What? Who's dead?
Ethan Hunt: My team. My team is DEAD. They knew we were coming, man. They knew we were coming and the disk is gone.
Eugene Kittridge: Are you intact?
Ethan Hunt: Do you read me! The list is in the OPEN!

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Eugene Kittridge: What, can we do Barnes... put a guy at the airport? How many identities do you think Hunt has? How many times has he slipped past customs and in how many counties? These guys are trained to be ghosts... we taught them to do it for Christ's sake.
Frank Barnes: Well what do you suggest?
Eugene Kittridge: Let's not waste time chasing after him, just make him come to us. Everybody has pressure points, Barnes. You find something that's personally important to him and you... squeeze.

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Senator John Waltzer: We were living in a democracy the last time I checked.

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Ethan Hunt: You're worried about me. Why?

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Luther Stickell: [about a previous computer hack] There was never any physical evidence I had anything to do with that... that... that exceptional piece of work.

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Ethan Hunt: [referring to CIA headquarters] This is the Mount Everest of hacks.

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Franz Krieger: Try any sleight of hand with my money and I'll cut your throat.

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Ethan Hunt: [just before entering the vault] Krieger, from this point on... absolute silence!

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Eugene Kittridge: Good morning, Mr. Phelps.

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Eugene Kittridge: I think we've lost enough agents for one night.
Ethan Hunt: You mean, *I've* lost enough agents for one night.
Eugene Kittridge: You seem hell-bent on blaming yourself, Ethan.
Ethan Hunt: Who else is left?
Eugene Kittridge: Yeah. I see your point.

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Eugene Kittridge: Hello, Max.
Max: My lawyers are going to have a field day with this. Entrapment, jurisdictional conflict...
Eugene Kittridge: Well, maybe we'll just leave the courts out of this one.
Max: I'm sure we can find something I have that you need.

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Luther Stickell: Reach your folks?
[Ethan nods]
Luther Stickell: How do they feel?
Ethan Hunt: About what?
Luther Stickell: The apology from the Justice Department, VIP treatment. You know, the whole nine yards.
Ethan Hunt: Well, my mom was a little confused how the DEA could mistake her and Uncle Donald for a couple of dope smugglers in the Florida Keys.

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[last lines]
Flight Attendant: Excuse me. Mr. Hunt? Would you like to watch a movie?
Ethan Hunt: Oh, uh, no thank you.
Flight Attendant: Would you consider the cinema of the Caribbean? Aruba, perhaps?

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Ethan Hunt: [to Claire] Wake up, Claire! Jim's dead! He's dead! They're all dead!

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Ethan Hunt: I thought I was going to see Max.
Matthias: You misunderstood. No one sees Max.
Ethan Hunt: Then what am I doing here?
Matthias: Allowing Max to see you and hear what you've got to say.
Ethan Hunt: I don't communicate very well through a shroud.
Matthias: If Max doesn't like what you have to say, you will be wearing that shroud indefinitely.

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Sarah Davies: [as Jack is trying to get the elevator to them] Tell me, Senator, do you all have someone on your staff named Jack?
Senator John Waltzer: Jack... I believe we did have a Jack. An unreliable fellow as I recall. Constantly late, and behind in his work. I was forced to tie him behind one of my best stallions and drag him around my barn for a few days.
Jack Harmen: Relax your crack, Foghorn. I'm working on it

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Ethan Hunt: Saved your ass again, Jack.
Jack Harmen: Give me a break, Pops.
Sarah Davies: Such a nice ass.
Jack Harmen: And a lonely ass.

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Ethan Hunt: Can I ask you something, Kittridge? If you're dealing with a man who has crushed, shot, stabbed, and detonated five members of his own IMF team, how devastated do you think you're gonna make him by hauling Mom and Uncle Donald down to the county courthouse?

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[after Max's computer program diskette failed]
Luther Stickell: Computers are a bitch.

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Ethan Hunt: [realizes Jim is the mole] Why Jim? Why?
Jim Phelps: [covering for himself] Well, you think about it Ethan, it was inevitable. No more cold war. No more secrets you keep from yourself. Answer to no one but yourself. Then, you wake up one morning and find out the President is running the country without your permission. The son of a bitch, how dare he. Then you realize, it's over. You are an obsolete peice of hardware, not worth upgrading, you got a lousy marriage, and 62 grand a year.

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Claire Phelps: Just give me the money.
Ethan Hunt: [quietly] You've earned it.

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Ethan Hunt: RED LIGHT, GREEN LIGHT!

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Ethan Hunt: [Ethan narrates someone getting into the vault] The only person allowed inside has to pass through a series of security checks. First is voiceprint identification
CIA Analyst William Donloe: William Donloe.
Ethan Hunt: Then, he has to put in a 6 digit code.
[Donloe enters the outer room]
Ethan Hunt: That only gets him into the outer room. Next, he is positively identified by retinal scan.
[Donloe passes the retinal scan]
Ethan Hunt: Finally, the security measures are only deactivated after insertion of a double electronic keycard... which we won't have.
[Donloe then enters the vault]
Ethan Hunt: Once inside the vault, there are 3 security systems in operation whenever the technician is out of the room. First is sound sensitive; anything above a whisper will set it off. The second is temperature-sensitive. Even the body heat of an unauthorized person inside the vault can trigger the alarm if the temperature rises just a single degree. And that temperature is controlled by an air conditioning vent 30 feet above the vault floor. That vent is guarded by a laser net.
[Donloe leaves the vault, security measures activate]
Ethan Hunt: The third one is on the floor, and it's pressure sensitive. Just the slightest increase in weight will set it off. And any of these systems, if set off, will trigger an automatic lockdown. Now believe me when I tell you, gentlemen, that all 3 systems, are state of the art.
[condensation from Donloe's drink drops to the floor sets off the alarm]

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Ethan Hunt: The disk Job sold you is worthless. Bait. Part of an internal mole hunt.
Max: And how would you know? Are you another company man?
Max: Like Job?
Max: We're asking about you
Ethan Hunt: I'm NOC, Was. Now, disavowed.
Max: Why, may I ask?
Ethan Hunt: That's the question I want to ask Job.

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Jim Phelps: Of course he knew. Just *when* he knew is something of a mystery. You mind telling me, Ethan? Was it before or after I showed up in London?
Ethan Hunt: Before London. But after you took the Bible from the Drake Hotel in Chicago.
Jim Phelps: They stamped it, didn't they? Those damn Gideons.

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Ethan Hunt: [talking about Prague] Ahh, we missed you, Jim.
Jim Phelps: Missed you too, Ethan.
Jack Harmen: Were you on one of your cushy recruiting assignments again?
Ethan Hunt: Yeah, where did they put you up this time? The Plaza?
Jim Phelps: Drake Hotel, Chicago.
[everybody "ooohs"]
Jack Harmen: Punishing. 24 hour room service?
Ethan Hunt: Chauffeured limos? Man's getting soft in his old age.

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Jim Phelps: We're being ambushed Ethan. Abort! That's an order.
Ethan Hunt: Negative. Golitsyn is on the move.
Jim Phelps: No, dammit, I said abort!
Ethan Hunt: Eye on the package. Jim, I'm Coming.

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Max: Who are you?... and *what* are you doing here?

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Ethan Hunt: [Entire conversation is on the phone] The list is in the open.
Eugene Kittridge: Calm down Ethan, look some and see me.
Ethan Hunt: Wait, you're in Prague?

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Eugene Kittridge: [after Hunt's team was killed and meets up with Kittridge in some kind of Aquarium/Restaurant place] Ethan. Ethan, I can't tell on how sorry I am. I know how Jim ment to you personally, as well as professionally.
[Slides Hunt a Passport]
Eugene Kittridge: Here is the usual stuff. You follow?
Ethan Hunt: [Muffled] Yeah. I follow.
Eugene Kittridge: I think we lost anough agents for one night.
Ethan Hunt: You mean, *I* lost enough agents for one night.
Eugene Kittridge: You seem to be bent on blaming yourself, Ethan.
Ethan Hunt: There was another IMF team tonight.
Eugene Kittridge: I don't quite follow you, Ethan.
Ethan Hunt: [Looking up to Kittridge] Well, let's see you can follow me around the room.
[Flashback]
Ethan Hunt: There were 2 drunk Russians on the river, and a man standing by Hannah by the stairs, bow tie, 12 o'clock, the other IMF team, you're worried about me, why?
Eugene Kittridge: Well, for starters we have experienced some drawbacks in IMF opperations, we have a penitration. A few days ago, we have decoded a letter from a person named, Max.
Ethan Hunt: The Arms dealer.
Eugene Kittridge: Right. This time, he's got somebody on the inside, he's gotten himself into a possition to buy our NOC list, the letter deocded from job 3:14. The job Golyitsyn was doing tonight.
Ethan Hunt: So, the disc that Golitsyn stole was a decoy.
Eugene Kittridge: Right.
Ethan Hunt: [In Disbelief] This whole opperation, was a mole hunt. This whole opperation was a mole hunt.
Eugene Kittridge: Yeah, and like you said, you survived.
[Takes out a piece of paper and unfolds it and hands it to Hunt]
Eugene Kittridge: Oh, By the way, with your father's death, your family's farm is in receivership, with around 120 grand in the bank, your father's illness was supposed to wipe out that bank account, but dying slowly in America can be a really expensive proposition.
[Hunts takes out the exploding gum]
Eugene Kittridge: Why don't we quietly get out of here and go on a plane. I can understand you're upset.
Ethan Hunt: Kittridge, you've never seen me this upset.
Eugene Kittridge: Alright, Ethan. That's enough. You have bribed, conjouled, and killed and you've done by using loyalties on the inside, you want to shake hands with the devil, you go right ahead, but I want to make sure you do it in hell.
[Hunt throws the gum against one of the aquariums which destroys it, covering his escape]

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